Protests against Proposition 8 supporters
Encyclopedia
Protests against Proposition 8 supporters, including the Roman Catholic church
and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), which collaboratively campaigned in favor of California's Proposition 8
through volunteer and financial support for the measure, took place starting in November 2008. The proposition was a ballot initiative for the November 4, 2008, general election restricting marriage
to male-female couples. During the period of time between a May 2008 ruling by the Supreme Court legalizing same-sex marriage
and ratification of the vote of Proposition 8, 18,000 same-sex couples were married.
Those opposed to Proposition 8 argued that same-sex couples deserved the same public recognition and marriage rights
that other couples are afforded, and that equality could not be achieved without state recognition in the form of marriage. On November 19, the California Supreme Court accepted three lawsuits challenging Proposition 8 but denied the requests to stay its enforcement.
people and the role of tax-exempt churches in this political campaign. There has also been renewed debate in LGBT communities whether boycott
ing companies or organizations is an appropriate and effective response toward the proposition's supporters.
Many anti-Proposition 8 protests, particularly those targeting the support of specific groups that supported Proposition 8, took the form of pickets or candlelight vigil
s. A candlelight vigil by about 600 mothers of LGBT children was held at the main temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in Salt Lake City, Utah
, shortly following the passage of Proposition 8.
s of the supporters' places of work.
columnist, have referred to some of the backlash as religious bigotry
, especially since many of those targeted are members of the LDS Church. Gregg Araki
, an independent filmmaker who is gay
, as well as Jeff McDonald and John Marelius of the San Diego Union-Tribune, and others have articulated arguments depicting this characterization as misleading and provided possible justification of such actions.
Various individuals and groups have decried these actions by those opposed to Proposition 8:
(the mayor of Fresno) received an email containing death threats against both himself and Cornerstone Church Pastor Jim Franklin. This caused police to assign the pastor officers for his protection and motivated the mayor to obtain a bodyguard. According to Fresno's Police Chief Jerry Dyer, the email "did state as to why that threat was made and it was stemming from prop 8." Both Autry and Franklin were prominent Proposition 8 supporters. As of August 12, 2009, no arrests have been made.
In the ten days following the November 4 election, seven houses of worship in Utah and ten buildings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in the Sacremento area were targets of vandalism, such as graffiti
and meeting house glass doors shattered. According to the LDS spokesperson for the Sacremento area, the vandalism that they experienced in the ten days after the election was more than they usually get in an entire year. A copy of the Book of Mormon
, an LDS religious text, was found burning at the front of a meetinghouse. The FBI investigated these events to determine whether a violation of civil rights
had occurred.
An affiliate group of the radical trans/queer organization Bash Back! claims credit for pouring glue into the locks of an LDS church and spray painting its walls. A Web posting signed by Bash Back!’s Olympia chapter said, “The Mormon church (just like most churches) is a cesspool of filth. It is a breeding ground for oppression of all sorts and needs to be confronted, attacked, subverted and destroyed.”
According to the Chicago Tribune, the acts of vandalism against the LDS church appear to be in retaliation for support of Proposition 8.
The Anti-Defamation League
released a statement condemning the "defacement and destruction of property."
(one in Los Angeles and one in Salt Lake City) and to the Knights of Columbus
's national headquarters in New Haven, Connecticut, prompting a hazardous materials response and a federal domestic terrorism investigation.
The envelope to the Catholic men's organization (the Knights of Columbus) had a postmark from California.
Both organizations were heavy backers of Proposition 8. The FBI has determined the substances were not biological agents, and FBI spokesman Special Agent Juan Becerra stated, "We've got to follow the evidence, and at this point we have not received anything that would lead us to believe the opponents of Prop. 8 are behind any kind of terroristic activity. It would be irresponsible to say that at this point." (Anthrax toxin
was used in the 2001 anthrax attacks
against lawmakers and media members, killing five people. Since then, the FBI has investigated more than 1,000 anthrax hoaxes
modeled on the mailings, which usually turn out to be harmless.)
The LDS church and many newspapers blamed opponents of the marriage ban for sending the hoax mailings, while a group that also supported the measure condemned "acts of domestic terrorism against our supporters." LGBT rights groups, such as Equality Utah
and Equality California
, have spoken out against the use of violence in protests, and note that the source of the "white powder" mailings has not been determined.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), which collaboratively campaigned in favor of California's Proposition 8
California Proposition 8 (2008)
Proposition 8 was a ballot proposition and constitutional amendment passed in the November 2008 state elections...
through volunteer and financial support for the measure, took place starting in November 2008. The proposition was a ballot initiative for the November 4, 2008, general election restricting marriage
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
to male-female couples. During the period of time between a May 2008 ruling by the Supreme Court legalizing same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
and ratification of the vote of Proposition 8, 18,000 same-sex couples were married.
The ballot
Proposition 8 added "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California" to the California Constitution. Proposition 8 was the most expensive proposition in United States history and sharply divided conservative and liberal viewpoints in the ongoing American culture wars. The ballot initiative was approved by a majority (52%) of voters. Immediately same-sex marriages were halted and the legal status of the 18,000 same-sex couples was disputed by those opposing same-sex marriage. Supporters of the proposition included a coalition of religious and social conservatives that felt the court ruling had redefined marriage.Those opposed to Proposition 8 argued that same-sex couples deserved the same public recognition and marriage rights
Rights and responsibilities of marriages in the United States
According to the United States Government Accountability Office , there are 1,138 statutory provisions in which marital status is a factor in determining benefits, rights, and privileges...
that other couples are afforded, and that equality could not be achieved without state recognition in the form of marriage. On November 19, the California Supreme Court accepted three lawsuits challenging Proposition 8 but denied the requests to stay its enforcement.
Candlelight vigils and pickets
As a result of the proposition's passage, there have been a number of organized as well as autonomous protests directed against supporters of the proposition including marches, actions, vigils, boycotts and vandalism. The actions have brought awareness to marriage rights issues for LGBTLGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
people and the role of tax-exempt churches in this political campaign. There has also been renewed debate in LGBT communities whether boycott
Boycott
A boycott is an act of voluntarily abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with a person, organization, or country as an expression of protest, usually for political reasons...
ing companies or organizations is an appropriate and effective response toward the proposition's supporters.
Many anti-Proposition 8 protests, particularly those targeting the support of specific groups that supported Proposition 8, took the form of pickets or candlelight vigil
Candlelight vigil
A candlelight vigil is an outdoor assembly of people carrying candles, held after sunset. Such events are typically held either to protest the suffering of some marginalized group of people, or in memory of lives lost to some disease, disaster, massacre or other tragedy. In the latter case, the...
s. A candlelight vigil by about 600 mothers of LGBT children was held at the main temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, shortly following the passage of Proposition 8.
Boycotts
Following the passage of the proposition, opponents obtained donation lists of those who had supported the ballot measure by contributing to the "Yes on 8" campaign, published the list, organized an activism group, and began calling for boycottBoycott
A boycott is an act of voluntarily abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with a person, organization, or country as an expression of protest, usually for political reasons...
s of the supporters' places of work.
- Scott Eckern, Artistic Director, California Musical TheatreCalifornia Musical TheatreCalifornia Musical Theatre is the largest nonprofit arts organization in the state of California and the city of Sacramento's oldest professional performing arts organization...
. Resigned on November 15, 2008. In a statement, Eckern pledged to donate $1,000 to LGBTLGBTLGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
lobbying group Human Rights CampaignHuman Rights CampaignThe Human Rights Campaign is the United States' largest LGBT advocacy group and lobbying organization; according to the HRC, it has more than one million members and supporters...
to match what he donated to Yes on 8. - Richard Raddon, Director, Los Angeles Film FestivalLos Angeles Film FestivalThe Los Angeles Film Festival, presented by the Los Angeles Times is an event held annually in June in downtown Los Angeles, California. The Los Angeles Film Festival began as the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival in 1995. The first LAIFF took place over the course of five days in a single...
. Resigned on November 25, 2008, after the LA Film Festival publicly distanced itself from Raddon's actions. Raddon donated $1,500 to Yes on 8. - Marjorie Christoffersen, Manager, El Coyote RestaurantEl Coyote CafeEl Coyote Cafe is a Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles that celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2006. The event was officially celebrated on March 13 with 75¢ dinner specials, although the restaurant actually opened on March 5 in 1931....
, Los Angeles, a lifelong Mormon, the niece of El Coyote’s founder, and the daughter of its current owner. The restaurant was popular as a late-night hangout for gay people, but was picketed after it was learned that Christofferson had donated $100 to the Yes on 8 campaign. Christofferson said she felt pressured to resign but did not. - Emerson Fersch, city treasurer of Signal Hill, CaliforniaSignal Hill, CaliforniaSignal Hill is a small city in California located in the Greater Los Angeles area. Signal Hill, completely surrounded by the city of Long Beach, was incorporated on April 22, 1924, roughly three years after oil was discovered in Signal Hill. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
, was the subject of a rally for his recall because of his support of Proposition 8. - The Sundance Film FestivalSundance Film FestivalThe Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
, based in Park City, Utah has been the target of calls for boycotts. Utah ranked second only to California itself for total donations in support of Proposition 8, while it ranked sixth for opposing donations, behind California and such heavily populated states as New York, Ohio, Illinois and Michigan. Over the last two and a half weeks before the election, the Yes on 8 campaign received donations totaling $5 million coming from residents of the state of Utah. - The Manchester Grand Hyatt HotelManchester Grand Hyatt HotelManchester Grand Hyatt Hotel is a high-rise building in San Diego composed of two towers. The towers are the third and seventh tallest buildings in the city. Developed but no longer owned by the controversial San Diego developer, Doug Manchester, the tower is the tallest building on the waterfront...
in San Diego after owner Doug Manchester donated $125,000 in support of Proposition 8. The boycott was against the Manchester Hyatt hotel specifically, and not against the Hyatt Hotel chain as a whole.
Claims of religious bigotry
Some public figures, writers, media commentators, and individuals have expressed concern over the actions that are occurring and the implications of targeting supporters of the proposition. Supporters of the measure, such as Kathryn Lopez, editor of the National Review Online, and Jonah Goldberg, a Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
columnist, have referred to some of the backlash as religious bigotry
Bigotry
A bigot is a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices, especially one exhibiting intolerance, and animosity toward those of differing beliefs...
, especially since many of those targeted are members of the LDS Church. Gregg Araki
Gregg Araki
Gregg Araki is an American independent filmmaker. He is involved in New Queer Cinema.-Early life:Araki was born in Los Angeles but grew up in Santa Barbara, California...
, an independent filmmaker who is gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
, as well as Jeff McDonald and John Marelius of the San Diego Union-Tribune, and others have articulated arguments depicting this characterization as misleading and provided possible justification of such actions.
Various individuals and groups have decried these actions by those opposed to Proposition 8:
- A full-page New York Times advertisement was run titled "No Mob Veto". A portion states, "When thugs ... terrorize any place of worship, especially those of a religious minority, responsible voices need to speak clearly: Religious wars are wrong; they are also dangerous." Aaron Falk and Jens Dana of the Deseret News report the advertisement was paid for by The Becket Fund for Religious LibertyThe Becket Fund for Religious LibertyThe Becket Fund for Religious Liberty is a non-profit organization based in Washington, DC that describes itself as "a non-profit, public interest law firm defending the freedom of religion of people of all faiths." The Becket Fund operates in three arenas: in the courts of law , in the court of...
, based in Washington, D.C. The advertisement was signed by law professors, diplomats, civil rights activists, and heads of religious organizations. The Human Rights CampaignHuman Rights CampaignThe Human Rights Campaign is the United States' largest LGBT advocacy group and lobbying organization; according to the HRC, it has more than one million members and supporters...
responded to these ads, opposing violence but claiming that the ads distort the truth when "they say we are in favor of mob intimidation and violence," suggesting that the ads represent to paint the entire opposition to Proposition 8 with the actions of a few. A full-page New York Times ad released by "Truth Wins Out" in response to the ad goes further, accusing the original ad of "blatant falsehoods," as well as "spotlighting the religious bigotry of the ad's very own signers."
- Several editorials from authors also condemn the tactics including "Editorial: Protest and civility in a democracy" from the Dallas Morning News, "So Much for Tolerance" from Chuck Colson of the Christian Post, and "California and Thank-A-Mormon Day" from John Reynolds of Biola UniversityBiola UniversityBiola University is a private, evangelical Christian, liberal arts university located near Los Angeles. Biola's main campus is in La Mirada in Los Angeles County, California. In addition, the university has several satellite campuses in Chino Hills, Inglewood, San Diego, and Laguna Hills.-...
.
Death threats and vandalism
Before the vote, Alan AutryAlan Autry
Carlos Alan Autry is an American actor, politician, and former National Football League football player. He is best known for his role as Captain Bubba Skinner on the television series In the Heat of the Night; he also has been in numerous movies and other television shows...
(the mayor of Fresno) received an email containing death threats against both himself and Cornerstone Church Pastor Jim Franklin. This caused police to assign the pastor officers for his protection and motivated the mayor to obtain a bodyguard. According to Fresno's Police Chief Jerry Dyer, the email "did state as to why that threat was made and it was stemming from prop 8." Both Autry and Franklin were prominent Proposition 8 supporters. As of August 12, 2009, no arrests have been made.
In the ten days following the November 4 election, seven houses of worship in Utah and ten buildings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in the Sacremento area were targets of vandalism, such as graffiti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
and meeting house glass doors shattered. According to the LDS spokesperson for the Sacremento area, the vandalism that they experienced in the ten days after the election was more than they usually get in an entire year. A copy of the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
, an LDS religious text, was found burning at the front of a meetinghouse. The FBI investigated these events to determine whether a violation of civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
had occurred.
An affiliate group of the radical trans/queer organization Bash Back! claims credit for pouring glue into the locks of an LDS church and spray painting its walls. A Web posting signed by Bash Back!’s Olympia chapter said, “The Mormon church (just like most churches) is a cesspool of filth. It is a breeding ground for oppression of all sorts and needs to be confronted, attacked, subverted and destroyed.”
According to the Chicago Tribune, the acts of vandalism against the LDS church appear to be in retaliation for support of Proposition 8.
The Anti-Defamation League
Anti-Defamation League
The Anti-Defamation League is an international non-governmental organization based in the United States. Describing itself as "the nation's premier civil rights/human relations agency", the ADL states that it "fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects...
released a statement condemning the "defacement and destruction of property."
Anthrax hoax
In November 2008, the United States Postal Service delivered envelopes containing white powder to two LDS templesTemple (LDS Church)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord, and they are considered by Church members to be the most sacred structures on earth. Upon completion, temples are usually open to the public for a short period of time...
(one in Los Angeles and one in Salt Lake City) and to the Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
's national headquarters in New Haven, Connecticut, prompting a hazardous materials response and a federal domestic terrorism investigation.
The envelope to the Catholic men's organization (the Knights of Columbus) had a postmark from California.
Both organizations were heavy backers of Proposition 8. The FBI has determined the substances were not biological agents, and FBI spokesman Special Agent Juan Becerra stated, "We've got to follow the evidence, and at this point we have not received anything that would lead us to believe the opponents of Prop. 8 are behind any kind of terroristic activity. It would be irresponsible to say that at this point." (Anthrax toxin
Anthrax toxin
Anthrax toxin is a three-protein exotoxin secreted by virulent strains of the bacterium, Bacillus anthracis--the causative agent of anthrax. The toxin was first discovered by Harry Smith in 1954. Anthrax toxin is composed of a cell-binding protein, known as protective antigen , and two enzyme...
was used in the 2001 anthrax attacks
2001 anthrax attacks
The 2001 anthrax attacks in the United States, also known as Amerithrax from its Federal Bureau of Investigation case name, occurred over the course of several weeks beginning on Tuesday, September 18, 2001, one week after the September 11 attacks. Letters containing anthrax spores were mailed to...
against lawmakers and media members, killing five people. Since then, the FBI has investigated more than 1,000 anthrax hoaxes
Anthrax hoaxes
Anthrax hoaxes involving the use of white powder or labels to falsely suggest the use of anthrax are frequently reported in the United States and globally. Hoaxes have increased following the 2001 anthrax attacks, after which no genuine anthrax attacks have occurred. The FBI and U.S...
modeled on the mailings, which usually turn out to be harmless.)
The LDS church and many newspapers blamed opponents of the marriage ban for sending the hoax mailings, while a group that also supported the measure condemned "acts of domestic terrorism against our supporters." LGBT rights groups, such as Equality Utah
Equality Utah
Equality Utah is an American non-profit 501 organization which is Utah's largest LGBT-rights equality group based in Salt Lake City, Utah.-Background:It was founded in 2001 as Unity Utah and took its present name in 2004....
and Equality California
Equality California
Equality California or EQCA is a non-profit civil rights organization that advocates for the rights of LGBT people in California.-Early history:...
, have spoken out against the use of violence in protests, and note that the source of the "white powder" mailings has not been determined.
See also
- Americans United for Separation of Church and StateAmericans United for Separation of Church and StateAmericans United for Separation of Church and State is a group that advocates separation of church and state, a legal doctrine interpreted by AU as being enshrined in the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.-Mission:The guiding principle of Americans...
- Anti-Catholicism in the United StatesAnti-Catholicism in the United StatesStrong political and theological positions hostile to the Catholic Church and its followers was prominent among Protestants in Britain and Germany from the Protestant Reformation onwards. Immigrants brought them to the American colonies. Two types of anti-Catholic rhetoric existed in colonial society...
- Anti-Mormonism
- Freedom of Religion in the United StatesFreedom of religion in the United StatesIn the United States, freedom of religion is a constitutionally guaranteed right provided in the religion clauses of the First Amendment. Freedom of religion is also closely associated with separation of church and state, a concept advocated by Thomas Jefferson....
- Join the ImpactJoin the ImpactJoin the Impact is an American LGBT political movement in support of gay rights which rapidly developed a national coalition after the passage of Proposition 8 in California. The website for the group was established November, 7th, 2008 after founders Amy Balliett and Willow Witte decided to...
- November 15, 2008 anti-Proposition 8 protestsNovember 15, 2008 anti-Proposition 8 protestsOn November 15, 2008, 1 million people in 300 cities across the United States and ten countries protested California voters' approval of Proposition 8, which changed the state Constitution to restrict the definition of marriage to opposite-sex couples and eliminated same-sex couples' right to marry...
- Post-election events of Proposition 8 (2008)Post-election events of Proposition 8 (2008)Proposition 8 is a ballot proposition and constitutional amendment passed in the November 2008, state elections. Due to the nature and controversy surrounding the initiative, several important post-election events occurred that sought to overturn the proposition through civil disobedience or...
- Separation of church and state in the United StatesSeparation of church and state in the United StatesThe phrase "separation of church and state" , attributed to Thomas Jefferson and others, and since quoted by the Supreme Court of the United States, expresses an understanding of the intent and function of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States...